Cricket Cranes skipper Roger Mukasa says playing in the revamped Africa Twenty20 Cup will give Uganda a ‘priceless’ chance to get international exposure ahead of the Division III International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cricket League (WCL) in Oman this November.“We are looking at this opportunity as a priceless one to play against the best franchises in South Africa,” said Mukasa when news filtered in that tournament organisers Cricket South Africa (CSA) had officially announced Uganda as the replacements for Ghana.The West Africans cited logistical reasons as their notion for pulling out of the expanded 2018/19 Africa T20 Cup which is set to take place in September with the preliminary round on September 14-16 followed by the finals’ weekend on September 23-24.“We are going to face the best bowlers on the continent and our seamers are going to have to do well against proven hitters of the ball. This will help us improve on our bowling at the death and improving our power-hitting especially in the powerplays,” added Mukasa. Uganda join other African nations including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia in the competition. The Cricket Cranes are in Pool A alongside KwaZulu-Natal Inland, Easterns, Western Province and KwaZulu-Natal Coastal. The exciting T20 action will take place in 4 coastal venues in Pietermaritzburg, Oudtshoorn, East London and Paarl featuring 12 CSA Affiliates, 3 Associate Members and 5 ICC Africa teams taking place over two thrilling weekends of T20 cricket.“We are glad Uganda are in because they’re a capable replacement. This event will provide the ideal opportunity for them to test themselves against some of the best young cricketers on the continent. I know Uganda will be ready to compete, and we are excited as we wait for the highly anticipated competition to get underway,” said ICC Africa Development Officer Justine Ligyalingi. Uganda will remain in South Africa following the conclusion of the Africa T20 Cup to play 50-over warm-up matches against KwaZulu-Natal Inland and the South African Academy respectively.

KAMPALA. The start of the 2018 Jazz Safari National Cricket League on Sunday only mirrored the happenings of 2017.

Reigning champions Aziz Damani and last season’s runners-up Tornado Bee will be contenders, at least going by their respective 70-run and nine-wicket victories over Strikers and Premier in Kyambogo and Lugogo.

The wins came on the back of good knocks of 113 off 122 balls by Dauda Rajani and 87* runs off 56 balls by Roger Mukasa in turn.

On the other hand, KICC will have to beat the ceiling of mediocrity to match its own feeling of a potent club. Their five-wicket loss to Challengers, after only setting 89 runs in 24.3 overs in Entebbe, keeps them far from their first league title in two decades.

Even if its title-winning run from 2013 ended last year, Tornado Bee played with an aura of invincibility against Division Two champions Premier.

“This is to welcome Premier to the table of men,” said Tornado Bee captain Jeremy Kibuukamusoke.

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If the National Men’s Division One Cricket 50-Over League was a wine bottle, then Tornado Bee have already dusted the cork. After weeks of lying in Challengers’ shadow, now the men in green and orange are nearing their four successive title. A commanding 275-run win over bottom side Wanderers at the lakeside Oval in Entebbe ensured Tornado Bee maintained grip on top spot on Sunday. The result, 10th win in 12 matches moved them to 61 points, now two clear of Challengers who defeated KICC by 16 runs at Lugogo. Roger Mukasa reminded everyone that class is permanent with a swashbuckling 143 runs off 72 balls.

For a player, who has had a relatively below-par season with the bat compared to 2015, Mukasa, in for Akbar Baig (53 off 88) at 161-2 after 32 overs, made his 50 off 34 balls before breaking loose. “I had to be patient,” Mukasa said about his strategy in the mammoth innings that helped him go top of the batting log with 386 runs thus far. “I knew the runs would come. I had to keep calm. I am happy with the result.”He shared a 198-run stand for the fifth wicket with Deus Muhumuza (27 off 31). By time Simon Kato (1/71) bowled out Mukasa on the penultimate ball of the innings, he had accumulated five boundaries and 11 sixes.

Tornado Bee had set 329-4, one of the highest batting totals ever in Entebbe. Two-time winners Wanderers barely chased the target. Sheer intimidation from Davis Karashani (5/15) and Mukasa (4/5) bundled them to 54 all-out in 16.1 overs.In Lugogo, chinaman bowler Henry Ssenyondo’s (6/37) blew away KICC as Challengers defended their compromising score of 147 all out. KICC, the pace setters in the first round, were miserably all out for 131.

When many consistently nodded their heads accompanied with several hand claps, it certainly felt right that all were worthy winners at the annual Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) Awards Gala on Thursday night.This serene mood at Copper Chimney Restaurants hardly fluctuated as nine awards were dished out at the Castle Lite/Pepsi-sponsored event.

The evening climaxed with pundits’ favourite Roger Mukasa being announced as the 2015 UCA Male Cricketer of the Year in front of the elegantly dressed 200 guests. “I am extremely happy,” the smiling batsman told Sunday Monitor shortly after being crowned by chief guest Commissioner of Sports Omara Apitta.“First, I dedicate this award to my fiancee Hajara Nabukenya,” he said while pointing at her. “Without her support, may be things would have been different. I also thank my friends, teammates and everybody who helped me got here.”

All-round performanceHe beat three other nominees Hamu Kayondo, Irfan Afridi and Ivan Thawithemwira, having notched 797 runs in 13 innings, snared 12 wickets and clung onto 14 catches as his side Tornado Bee won their third successive National Men’s Division One 50-Over League title. Mukasa, also voted 2014 MVP, was also fourth best batsman with 85 runs as the Uganda’s senior national team finished fifth at last year’s ICC World Cricket League Div. II tournament in Namibia.

Three-horse raceMeanwhile, Franklyn Najjumba pipped KICC pair Gertrude Chandiru and Consy Aweko for the Female MVP gong. “Though I won this in 2010, I am really grateful to God for another award,” Najjumba said after receiving a standing ovation from her Pioneer teammates, the 2015 Women’s 40-Over League champions. “It was not easy. I was consistent throughout 2015 with bat (an average of 42 runs per innings) and ball which I think gave me the advantage. Hopefully, 2016 turns out even better,” she concluded.

KAMPALA. Cricket Cranes all-rounder Roger Mukasa was yesterday morning voted the Nile special-Uganda Sports Press Association (Uspa) personality for the month of October during the journalists’ meeting at Imperial Royale Hotel.The opening batsman beat Badminton player Edward Ekiring, footballer Robert Ssentongo and rally pair of Omar Mayanja and Leon Ssenyange to the accolade for his outstanding display in the just concluded Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division III in Malaysia as he was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).Mukasa collected 265 runs from six innings with a highest score of 86 against Bermuda at an average of 52.8 per innings and only fell short of best batsman Malaysian Arjurn Mutreja (282)’s aggregate by 17 runs.“What,” Mukasa reacted after Daily Monitor broke the news of his latest achievement. “I am so proud to have been voted for such an award and can’t believe it.” “It’s a big motivation and I believe I was on form for my country and would like to laud my teammates for what we did in Malaysia.”The 25-year-old’s tidy part time off-spin deliveries that accounted for 27.5 overs also prized out 13 wickets at a cost of 125 runs, just one scalp behind the tourney’s best bowler Basanta Regmi of Nepal.The Tornado B player hit 86 runs to help guide Uganda to the ICC Division II Cricket league, which will be held in Namibia in January 2015 after the country accumulated the required eight points.During the same meeting, the scribes also commended Professional boxer Sharif Bogere for knocking out Mexican Fernando Garcia in the fifth round in a non-title fight. Cricket Cranes Team for qualifying for the ICC Division II Cricket league and Shamim Bangi for scooping a bronze medal in the Nigerian Badminton tournament were all mentioned.

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Tornado B’s Roger Mukasa capped another impressive day with the bat as he scored a 114-ball 173 ton to help his side to a 185-run victory over hosts Jinja SS in the men’s Division One National 50-Over League encounter on Sunday.Mukasa’s century, now the highest knock this year thus far, ensured the defending champions Tornado B completed the first round of seven games with their 100 per cent unbeaten record intact on 39 points and forthwith atop the log.“I am pretty delighted with the feat,” a composed Mukasa told Daily Monitor as he cooled off from Jinja while watching the Commonwealth Games with teammates at Lugogo Tennis Club on Sunday evening. Eight days ago, the top-order batsman had blazed 154 in the 144-run win over Wanderers and prior to heading to Jinja, the image of celebrating his first ever back-to-back career tons was never envisioned.

Successive ton“I did not think of scoring another century so soon,” he said, “But after I hit the first ball, I felt like I would go on to play like my idol Adam Glichrist (retired Australian batsman and wicket-keeper),” Mukasa added. He now leads the batting charts with 451 runs from six innings.With two wickets down after 7.2 overs, the 25-year-old rode his luck after being dropped on 73 and went on to strike 17 fours until he was caught by Aloysious Odoi off Geoffrey Gandi’s (2/62) on penultimate ball of the 43rd over.Mukasa’s effort was supplemented with knocks from Lawrence Ssematimba (51), Davis Karashani (26) and the Kibuukamusoke brothers; captain Jeremy (39) and Cyrus (25) as Tornado B coasted to the season’s highest aggregate of 375 for 7.Following in-swing medium pacer John Mpande’s (4/21) damage, Jinja SS were 43 for 5 after 10 overs but some resistance from Emmanuel Taban (45) and Odoi (42) helped them reach a paltry 190 runs.Meanwhile, Challengers returned to winning ways after three months with a 199-run victory over a depleted Nile. Celebrating his 22nd birthday in style, Challengers’ Arnold Otwani stroked a 94-ball 73 half ton and paired for a match-winning 107-run third-wicket combo with Ivan Thawithemwira (69 off 73) as they set 280 for 4. Otwani later claimed five scalps for 26 runs as Nile were bowled out for 81.

With cash prizes at stake, fun tournaments are usually more competitive than organisers can anticipate.

That competitiveness was on show on Tuesday as Patidar Universal and Pak Coin required a Super Over to be separated in the first semifinal of the Night Cricket tournament.

Roger Mukasa was once again the difference between the two teams scoring 20 runs in the Super Over as Patidar claimed a four-run victory and a place in Saturday’s final.

After winning the toss and deciding to bat first, the game seemed to have drifted away from Patidar after being bowled out for 89 runs.

More lackluster batting from Pak Coin, however, ensured they were bowled out for the same score.

It was then that Mukasa took charge of the game. After conceding 16 runs in the Super Over, Mukasa had the last laugh, scoring 20 runs including a mighty six over the screen on the final ball that ensured a four -run victory.

For Patidar captain Nirav Patel, the passion shown by both teams was the night’s biggest highlight.

“It does not really matter who the winner is because both teams deserved the victory,” Patel said with more relief than delight after the game.

The moderate crowd on show will hope Jinja Keshwala and UWS put up a similar show when the two sides meet in the second semifinal today at Lugogo Oval.

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